As the delta variant of COVID-19 has entered the U.S., doctors' and nurses' associations -- such as the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) -- are calling for a vaccine mandate for all health care workers.
By implementing a coronavirus vaccine mandate, medical professionals are hopeful it will decrease the virus spread as the public enters another COVID-19 outbreak.
"We call for all health care and long-term care employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19," the groups said in a joint statement reviewed by The Washington Post. "The health and safety of U.S. workers, families, communities and the nation depends on it," Business Insider reported on July 26.
It was reported that 15% of 1,300 health care workers (195) declined to receive the vaccine in a report by Surgo Ventures. Additionally, 40,000 new cases of COVID-19 are being reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each day, according to Business Insider.
As some remain uncertain or hesitant, health care providers are encouraged to get vaccinated to keep themselves protected from the virus while caring for COVID-19 patients.
"As the largest group of health care professionals, nurses are critical to all facets of COVID-19 response efforts and must strive to remain physically and psychologically safe to function optimally to care for themselves, their patients and their communities," ANA president Ernest Grant said in a statement to Business Insider. "Nurses must get vaccinated."
